title: Uptake of drugs from topically applied anti-inflammatory preparations applied to racing animals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a drug detected in the blood or urine of a racing animal could have penetrated through the skin from a topically applied preparation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood and urine of dogs and horses were analysed after topical administration of three common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory preparations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dimethylsulphoxide was analysed using a gas chromatograph with a flame photometric detector. Phenylbutazone, its metabolites and lignocaine were analysed using a gas chromatograph with a mass selective detector.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dimethylsulphoxide, phenylbutazone and lignocaine were detected in dog urine after multiple applications of the preparations. The maximum concentration of dimethylsulphoxide in dog urine correlated with the concentration of dimethylsulphoxide in the preparation. Phenylbutazone penetrated the skin more effectively from the cream than from the solution or gel preparations. This penetration was independent of the concentration of dimethylsulphoxide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The superior penetration of phenylbutazone from the cream can be explained by it being present as a neutral molecule in an hydrophobic medium. It is proposed that phenylbutazone penetrates the skin of greyhounds most effectively by a hydrophobic lipid route which is likely to be different from the path by which dimethylsulphoxide penetrates the skin.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Bowater
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Vine
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004300:Doping in Sports; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010653:Phenylbutazone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008012:Lidocaine; D010653:Phenylbutazone; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide